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Okla. House delays vote on human trafficking bill

At least six human trafficking-related bills were introduced this session in Oklahoma and are among more than 200 working through other state governments

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma House has postponed a vote on a bill by Republican Rep. Lee Denney that is intended to shield minors from prostitution charges in certain cases.

The bill would require prosecutors to assume that all minors involved in prostitution were coerced and are therefore victims of human trafficking. Denney says her bill simply ran out of time and could come up again early next week.

At least six human trafficking-related bills were introduced this session in Oklahoma and are among more than 200 working through other state governments.

Another bill by Republican Rep. Sally Kern would provide a way for human trafficking victims to have prostitution convictions removed from their records. It has passed the House and was sent to the state Senate.